Filtering by Tag: Pietermaritzburg

I enjoyed my time here, the staff are friendly and informative. Duncan is great, always asking about your stay and checking if all is well, actually everyone is like that, I guess this is the mantra that everyone here lives by.

With a rich history dating back to the mid 1800’s, Pietermaritzburg’s Royal Show, staged annually in late May, is the biggest event on the KwaZulu-Natal calendar and a must visit for any guest to our magnificent province.

— Hartford House

Initiated in 1851, The Royal Show at Pietermaritzburg's Royal Agricultural Showgrounds was already growing rapidly before the main Witwatersrand trunk line was being built and before electricity and transistor radios appeared in homes throughout the South Africa. Cattle, sheep, horses and pigs at that time were walked from the Railway Station at the top end of Church Street, down Commercial Road to the Showgrounds straddling the Dorpspruit River on the then city outskirts.

Major George Iwanowski riding one of his Lipizzaners to the Royal Show / Royal Agricultural Society (p)

Throughout its history, 'The Royal' has had the privilege of hosting merchants and businessmen who recognised the benefits of interacting with one another, the agricultural sector and the general public.

The opening of the 1925 Royal Show by the Prince of Wales. Flanking the Prince are Leonard Line and William Drysdale / Royal Agricultural Society (p)

Today the Royal Show is the largest mixed exhibition incorporating a fully-fledged agricultural component on the continent of Africa. Not only does this include the exposition of some of the country's finest livestock and agricultural equipment but also a range of ancillary activities and displays covering the industrial, commercial and service sectors within the province.

Included in the mix is the 2100 sqm Food Hall, where exhibits and demonstrations showcase the entire food chain; from farm field to dining table.

The century old Crafts and Home Industries Hall / Royal Agricultural Society (p)

Similarly, the recently refurbished - century old - Crafts and Home Industries Hall affords young and old with eclectic displays and inter-active demonstrations of extraordinary talent. These include embroidery, needlework, tapestries, knitting, painting, photography, beading and wood sculpting. Whilst the emphasis is focused on the non-commercial competitive sections; the 'purist' component is today complemented in the adjacent hall with a mix of displays of modern crafts, many of which are available to purchase.

Other dedicated halls include those relating to business, home improvements and safety and security, together with a further 4000 sqm under cover devoted to a broad mix of general displays.

Open site stands cater for a mix of exhibits ranging from swimming pools and building requisites through to a vast array of tractors, agricultural implements and the latest motor vehicles and trucks / Royal Agricultural Society (p)

Open site stands likewise cater for a mix of exhibits ranging from swimming pools and building requisites through to a vast array of tractors, agricultural implements and the latest motor vehicles and trucks. Recently 'The Royal' has seen a significant increase in the presence of materials handling and construction equipment all indicating that 'The Royal' affords incredible value from a corporate marketing and branding perspective in respect of capital items of note.

Full of contrasts, 'The Royal', with its unique ambience abutting the City and the Dorpspruit stream still running through its centre, is all about old friends, new introductions, long established traditions and stimulating fresh ideas.

"At Hartford, the kitchen team has already created their own history."

The spirit of cuisine doesn't emerge out of nowhere. It is formed and defined with time and especially by the people who pass through its kitchen. At Hartford House, it is the life's work so far of a Pietermaritzburg girl, Jackie Cameron, who is at the foundation of its legacy. She has taken the spirit of Hartford's cuisine, combined it with her appro

ach to life, personalised it and created a character of its own. What makes up that spirit? Ethics, passion, creativity, freedom, and the willingness to take risks.

At Hartford, the kitchen team has already created their own history. They've placed the environs of Mooi River and the broader church of Zululand on the international map of gastronomy. Today they are at the apex of the local culinary world. "Foodies" often talk about the best chef in the world, when in reality, cuisine, unlike other activities, cannot be measured, quantified or calculated. There is no such thing as the best chef. But there's something of greater importance: the chef, and the team, which is the most influential, the one which establishes a new dynamic for the future. The Hartford kitchen already occupies one of these summits. They're already influencing chefs around the country, not just with their cooking, but with their philosophy. That is why Hartford's influence will endure.

"SOUTH AFRICA'S CHELSEA ON YOUR DOORSTEP"

The Gardner Magazine writes that the 34th Sunday Tribune Garden & Leisure Show, presented by The Royal Agricultural Society of Natal, will take place at the Royal Showgrounds, Pietermaritzburg, from 25 to 27 September 2009.

Gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts from all over the country will be privy to the latest landscaping techniques, new plants and magnificent feature gardens, many of which are sponsored by corporate and municipal role players.

With the 2009 theme being Hip and Happening, the garden designs are expected to range from the practical to the surreal and, without exception, to be inspiring and elicit that “wow” response from the audience.

The show also affords garden clubs and schools with an opportunity to display – by way of mini gardens – the extraordinary talent and technique of both the enthused and amateur eye, with the Chelsea-mentored judges of recent years frequently expressing their amazement at the sheer brilliance of our youngsters.

Only 45 minutes from greater Durban and Mooi River, and a leisurely four and a half hour drive from Gauteng, the show is conveniently located in the heart of the scenic midlands, in KwaZulu-Natal’s capital, Pietermaritzburg, and just one kilometer off the N3.